Sharyn R. Jones

Dr. Sharyn R. Jones is a Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Archaeology Program at Northern Kentucky University's College of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on human-environmental interactions, tropical island chiefdoms, and public archaeology, with a geographic emphasis on Fiji, Polynesia, the Caribbean, India, and Japan. She has conducted over two decades of fieldwork in Fiji's Lau Islands and collaborates closely with Indigenous communities to address issues like sustainable farming, identity, and gender. Her work emphasizes public engagement and interdisciplinary approaches to address social challenges.

Dr. Jones holds a Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Florida and a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley. She teaches courses including Archaeological Methods, World Archaeology, and Origins of Civilization, integrating her research into pedagogy. She has secured significant grants, including multiple NSF REU awards (2009-2015) and a post-doctoral fellowship at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Her recent project explores the Parker Academy, a historic multi-racial school in North America, combining archaeological and archival methods.

Her research has produced over 60 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and books. Notable contributions include studies on Fijian foodways, cannibalism identification through osteoarchaeology, and long-term marine resource exploitation. She prioritizes collaborative research with Indigenous communities and public dissemination of archaeological knowledge through initiatives like the REU-Fiji program.